4th - 6th December 2020

Sunday, 6th December: Another cold morning, with the breeze fresh and from the north, bright early on before quickly clouding over............

Just a reminder to park considerately if you are going to Marsh Farm, Sidlesham. There is some additional parking at the village hall, between the main road and the church. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: There were a few more Great Northern Divers than of late, plus a Black-throated Diver, whilst four Sandwich Terns were offshore this morning. Full log later. (SH/PM/BI/SR/IP/IH/SP/TH/MO-W/AH)

(0730-0930hrs) (N, F4)

Great Northern Diver - 4E, 1os

Black-throated Diver - 1E

Red-throated Diver - 9E

Great Crested Grebe - 1E

Gannet - 33E, 2W, 100os, then E

Brent Goose - 1E

Eider - 1W

Common Scoter - 25os

Red-breasted Merganser - 14E, 2W, 7os

Mediterranean Gull - 3E

Common Gull - 1E

Herring Gull - 300os then E

Kittiwake - 10E

Sandwich Tern - 4os

Razorbill - 2E

auk sp - 7E, 2W

At lunchtime, a drake Eider went east off Hillfield Road and a Chiffchaff was in the adjacent tamarisk bushes. (AB)

Sandwich Tern at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Five Snipe were in the reeds, whilst three Gadwall, eight Shelducks, c40 Black-tailed Godwits, c200 Lapwings, c40 Teal and c80 Shovelers were around the pool and c100 Wigeon were on the fields.

Also, around 50 Fieldfares were commuting between the field and the hedges on the Medmerry Trail and a pair of Stonechats were by the access gates. (AH)

Stonechat (above) & Teal at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Richard's Pipit was again in the fields along Church Farm Lane this morning, whilst the Glossy Ibis was still near the Marsh Farm buildings and 18 White-fronted Geese, including eight juveniles, were in the fields towards Bramber Farm. There were also four Egyptian Geese and plenty of Cattle Egrets about.(PB/AB/RJS/A&YF/TG-P/PM et al) 

Also, amongst other species in the area, there were five Brent Geese over, seven Shelduck, 70 Lapwings, three Kestrels, ten Skylarks, 170 Starlings, 14 Long-tailed Tits, three Stonechats, 20 Meadow Pipits and four Yellowhammers. (GaJ)

Richard's Pipit, Marsh Farm (PM)

East Head: The two Snow Buntings were still at the northern tip of the head this morning. (MR)

Snow Buntings at East Head (MR)

Park Farm, Selsey: It was very quiet this morning, but the fields beyond held a single Pied Wagtail, a pair of Green Woodpeckers, a Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk. (IP)

Church Norton: There was a bit of activity offshore this morning, including a Great Northern Diver on the sea, a Red-throated Diver west, a Sandwich Tern east and five auks, including one Razorbill seen, too.

The harbour had a brief female Marsh Harrier and the pair of Peregrines were on their island. Wader numbers were high, including at least five hundred Lapwing and 200 Golden Plover over, and six Avocets and plenty of the commoner waders on the mud. 

A large flock of Brent Geese were commuting between fields on the west side and the harbour (flying in when the scarer was set off regularly), and there were also at least twenty Pintail in the harbour, plus three Red-breasted Mergansers (including one male) and five Little Grebes, whilst a drake Shoveler was on the first Several.

Also, a small flock of Goldcrests were between the Severals, a Cetti's Warbler called once nearby and a Mistle Thrush and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Greenlease Farm. (IP)

Later, the female Common Scoter was again in the harbour. (AB)

Medmerry: Toe End - Two Black Redstarts were on the rocks by the breach this morning, though elusive, whilst a first-winter male Eider was offshore. (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - The 24 White-fronted Geese, including ten juveniles, were still present and being surprisingly obliging in the fields along the track to Earnley, where there were also up to 1000 Brent Geese (with perhaps from between 10% to 20% juveniles), c30 Stock Doves and a dozen Pied Wagtails.

A Dartford Warbler was in the gorse nearby, but generally passerines were few, beyond the odd Skylark and Meadow Pipit, whilst 40 Golden Plovers went over east, though the Stilt Pool just held a few Ringed Plovers, plus the usual mix of wildfowl. (BI/AH/CRJ et al).

White-fronted Geese (above), Golden Plovers & Skylark at Medmerry (AH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm to Ham - There wasn't too much going on this afternoon, but a handful of Corn Buntings, c20 Yellowhammers and c40 Linnets were in the bushes along the cycle track, six Fieldfares went over, heading east, and c150 Pied Wagtails were in the wheat fields at Porthole Farm. (AH)

Corn Bunting (above), Yellowhammer, Fieldfare & Pied Wagtails at Medmerry (AH)

Saturday, 5th December: A pretty dismal morning's weather, very cold and with a near gale force south-easterly bringing through several heavy squalls, including a couple of  dramatic hailstorms.......

Please note that parking is very restricted in Church Farm Lane - with only a couple of spaces at the back of the churchyard and a few more spaces in the adjacent Church Lane, or along Rookery Lane to follow Cycle Route 88. 

Please do not park along the concrete road or in the gateways as nine cars got ticketed today. (Eds)

Selsey Bill: Most notable this morning was a big movement of Gannets and gulls going east, with three Bonxies offshore and a few of the regular species seen, too. (SH/JA/PB/AH/BI/IP/MO-W)

(0730-0930hrs) (SSE, F7)

Great Northern Diver - 1E, 2os

Red-throated Diver - 3W, 1os

Slavonian Grebe - 2E

Gannet - 285E, 44W

Common Scoter - 9E, 1W, 10os

Red-breasted Merganser - 4E

Sparrowhawk - 1

Bonxie - 3os, then W

Mediterranean Gull - 42E

Herring Gull - 1543E

Greater Black-backed Gull - 382E

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 17E

Common Gull - 80E, 1W

Kittiwake - 19E, 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2E

Razorbill - 1E

Guillemot - 2E, 1os

auk sp - 10E

Great Northern Diver (above) & Mediterranean Gulls at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: At least 100 Wigeon and half a dozen Black-tailed Godwits were on the fields, whilst there were another 40 of the latter, c30 Teal and c70 Shoveler on the pool. (AH)

Shovelers (above) & Wigeon at the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: Yesterday's Richard's Pipit gave itself up this morning, favouring the field south-west of the derelict brick barn on Church Farm Lane, and though disappearing for periods of time it did show well on occasion. 

Otherwise, the Glossy Ibis was still about, though just five Cattle Egrets could be found, a Raven and 35 White-fronted Geese went over Marsh Farm, whilst the hedges and fields along Church Farm Lane held a Snipe, at least eight Yellowhammers, half a dozen Linnets and plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. (BI/IP/MO-W/MI/OM/CRJ/SR/AH/S&SaH/PB/AW et al)

The Richard's Pipit was still present 1515hrs at least and 40+ Cattle egrets were still around the farm. (LGRE et al)

Richard's Pipit (top two AW, lower two AH) & Yellowhammer (AH) at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham

Happy pipit-hunters! (SR)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Very little was showing in the strong wind, but a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse opposite, while the pool held 97 Wigeon, two Gadwall, c50 Lapwing and four Stonechats. 

A Kingfisher, a Kestrel, half a dozen Meadow Pipits, and five Yellowhammers were along the path and the flock of 24 White-fronted Geese was along the track to the Earnley car park and further along was the flock of c400 Brent and two more Stonechats. (SR)

White-fronted Geese at Medmerry (SR)

Friday, 4th December: Another cold and grey morning, with some drizzly rain and a fresh north-westerly breeze.....

Selsey Bill: Over 50 Gannets were among the distant feeding flock of gulls and two Sandwich Terns and 70 Kittiwakes went west, though it was generally quiet. Full log below. (BI/IP/SR/AH)

(0730-0900hrs) (WNW, F5)

Red-throated Diver - 2E, 2W

Great Crested Grebe - 1W

Gannet - 8E, 39W, 55os

Brent Goose - 5E

Common Scoter - 4W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4W, 2os

Dunlin - 50E

Mediterranean Gull - 33W

Common Gull - 15W

Kittiwake - 70W

Sandwich Tern - 2W

Razorbill - 7E

auk sp - 12E, 18W

Meadow Pipit - 1W

Pied Wagtail - 2W

Sandwich Tern (above), Common Scoter & Common Gull at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: Three Avocets were on the pool this morning, along with two Shelduck, c40 Teal, c69 Shovelers and at least 300 Lapwings. (AH)

Later, a Firecrest was between the Visitor Centre and the hide. (RJS)

Shovelers on the Ferry (AH)

Marsh Farm, Sidlesham: The Glossy Ibis was still present this morning in the far corner by the milking parlour and 23 White-fronted Geese appeared to fly into the fields towards Bramber Farm. 

Also the flock of c30 Fieldfares was about and there were c50 Curlew and 22 Cattle Egrets plus 18 Shelduck. (SR/JDW) 

Late news this evening of a Richard's Pipit seen and photographed around the fields this afternoon by Nick Moll. (Eds)

While unsuccessfully scouring the Marsh Farm area for Cattle Egrets and Glossy Ibis, a Richard’s Pipit flew over my head from the east, calling loudly. 

I located in an arable field and managed to take a couple of particularly poor photos I subsequently lost sight of it but, a few minutes later, it took off from another part of the field and, calling again, headed in the direction of the B2145. (N Moll per SOS)

Richard's Pipit at Marsh Farm, Sidlesham (N Moll)

Chichester Marina: A Bearded Tit was heard briefly in the reed-bed this morning, and there were also two or three Water Rails, a Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler in the vicinity. (PH)

Medmerry: Marsh Barn - A flock of 24 White-fronted Geese were in the fields just west of Marsh Barn this morning. (IL)

The White-fronted Geese flock, containing at least ten juveniles,were still present this afternoon, looking quite settled in the stubble field by Marsh Barn, surprisingly unconcerned by people walking along the nearby footpath.

Oddly, the three species of goose present, all kept to themselves, with a flock of 500 Brent Geese in the nearby wheat field and c60 Canada Geese in the grass field by the first viewpoint. (AH)

White-fronted Geese at Medmerry (AH)

Church Norton: At least ten Avocets were spread around the harbour, with plenty of other waders present, including c200 Knot, c500 Dunlin and c50 Grey Plovers, whilst at least 20 Pintail, c40 Teal and c100 Wigeon were also about.

Half a dozen Brent Geese behind the churchyard were the only ones seen, whilst offshore there were just four Red-breasted Mergansers and two Great Crested Grebes. (AH)

Avocets (above), Pintail & Knot, Grey Plovers and Dunlin at Church Norton (AH)

Fishbourne Creek - Dell Quay: The highlights this morning in and around the channel were seven Golden Plover, four Spotted Redshanks, six Red-breasted Mergansers, four Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebes and two Goldeneye. 

 Later, a single male Goldeneye was off the Lavant Outfall, with a Rock Pipit along the seawall and a Greenshank at Fishbourne. (RW)

Rock Pipit (above) & Golden Plovers at Fishbourne Creek (RW)

North Wall: Two Marsh Harriers (and possibly a third) were flying north of the Wall early this morning and the harbour sky was alive with Lapwing (400 to 500), Golden Plover (200 +) and Brent Geese, which were generally flying north-east. 

Two Fieldfares and a Song Thrush were perched in the hedgerows which were otherwise quiet and Whites Creek held the usual Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. (IH)

Later, in Honer 1 field there were at least 50 Fieldfares and a few Redwings plus a party of 11 Long-tailed Tits, whilst in the harbour off Owl Water there were a good selection of waders but in small numbers including Grey Plover, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew and a lone Avocet. (JDW)

Avocet at the North Wall (JDW)

Honer Reservoir: There were 11 Tufted Ducks, six Gadwall, six Shoveler, three Shelduck and a Pochard plus three Pied Wagtails on the reservoir, whilst in the fields between the reservoir and Sefter Farm there were 1200 Brent Geese. (JDW)

Pochard and Coot (above) & Tufted Ducks at Honer Reservoir (JDW)